This page provides an overview of the different areas that make up this unique part of Long Island. Each named area – be it a town, hamlet or village – has its own special charm, amenities and characteristics that set it apart from the rest. Some places are great for visiting the beach or are great for just getting out of the city and into the country. Depending on where you go you can also find large houses or small cottages for rent, hotels and even a few campgrounds. People spend anywhere from a day to more than the whole summer during their Hamptons vacation.

First let’s sort out a bit what is found where.

Southampton

This town is just west of East Hampton and taken as a whole encompasses almost 300 square miles. The irregular coastline and an abundance of different water bodies’ means slightly more than half of the total area of the town is water, leaving 140 square miles of land.

As adapted from a historical description of the town, the bounds of East Hampton and some of its early origins could thus be described as:

This town, called by the natives Agawam, is bounded south by the ocean, west by Brookhaven, north, partly by Riverhead and partly by Peconic Bay, separating it from Southold, and east by Easthampton. Length, from east to west, about twenty miles and breadth, in the widest place, six miles. The name was given in remembrance of Southampton in England, from which port the settlers took their departure from Europe, The surface is generally level, and the soil a light sandy loam, except the western part, which is mostly sand, and the roads heavy and tedious. About the villages of Southampton, Bridgehampton, and Sagg, the soil is naturally fertile, and is well cultivated. This town was settled in 1640, being cotemporary with the settlement of Southold, nine years previous to Easthampton and fifteen anterior to Brookhaven.

There are six villages: North Haven, Quogue, Sag Harbor (which also extends into East Hampton), Sagaponack, Southampton, and Westhampton Beach. The more numerous hamlets include: Bridgehampton, Eastport (also extending into Brookhaven), East Quogue, Flanders, Hampton Bays, Northampton, North Sea, Noyack, Quioque, Remsenburg, Riverside, Shinnecock Hills, Speonk, Tuckahoe, Water Mill, Westhampton.

East Hampton

As adapted from a historical description of the town: This is the most easterly town on Long Island. It is situated upon the southern branch and includes the peninsula or Montauk and Gardiner’s Island. It is bounded on the east by the confluence of the Ocean with the sound, on the south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Southampton, and on the north by Gardiner’s Bay and the Sound. The south shore is in some places a low sandy beach, in others formed into hills of every variety of shape but upon Montauk there are high and rugged cliffs, at whose base the waves dash with almost continued violence. The northern shore is much less exposed to the action of the sea, is for the most part level, and is indented with numerous covers and small ponds or bays.

Two incorporated villages are found here, East Hampton and Sag Harbor. Unincorporated hamlets include: Amagansett, Montauk, Napeague, Springs and Wainscott. East Hampton North and Northwest Harbor are not official villages, and these areas are not called by these names by most folks, but are used as census locations by the federal government. To add even more confusion Northwest Harbor is sometimes called Northwest or Northwest woods by local folks.

101 Main Street. East Hampton

A visit to the Hamptons typically evokes a sense of nostalgia and history for anyone that visits. Driving around, walking through a town center and many homes both reveal and hint at the area’s past. One way to learn more about earlier times in the Hamptons is through visiting some of the properties and buildings preserved by the East Hampton Historical Society.

The society’s mission statement explains what the society strives to do, and what you can expect to find in any interaction with them:

The East Hampton Historical Society serves the residents and visitors of East Hampton by collecting, preserving, presenting and interpreting the material, cultural and economic heritage of the town and its surroundings.

One of the ways they work to fulfill this mission is by taking care of several historic buildings – all of which you can visit. The society also offers exhibits, programs, publications, and other presentations to disseminate historical knowledge and information.

The following highlight some of the East Hampton Historical Society’s properties that you should consider visiting.

East Hampton Marine Museum

301 Bluff Road, Amagansett

The museum is a great place to learn about local fishing and maritime history. Before the Hamptons economy became dominated by tourism, fishing was one of a few backbones of local commerce and employment. While its significant as a driver of the local economy has been diminished it remains an important part of the many residents lives. Visitors are often unaware of this part of Long Island’s past nor do they know there still exists a significant fishing industry here. A visit to the museum can help to learn more about fishing and the connection between Long Islander’s and the sea.

The Mulford Farm

10 James Lane at Montauk Highway. East Hampton

The property and building are a rare authentic example of early English Colonial farm settlement. The main buildings found here include a farmhouse, barn and smokehouse. The home was originally built in 1680. While a few changes were made over the next 70 years of its existence, its structure today is the same as it was in 1750. The current furnishings, which you can see when you tour the home, reflect the period around the 1790s. The Barn was built in 1721 and is a significant historical example of eighteenth century barn building.

The Mulford Farm property also has a wonderful garden, one of three such gardens on historical society properties that are lovingly cared for by the Garden Club of East Hampton.

Town House

Main Street. East Hampton

This circa 1731 building originally served as a town government meeting hall. Town trustees would gather in the building to pass laws and discuss the affairs of the settlement. Not only is it oldest town government building on Long Island, it is also the oldest schoolhouse building too. In fact the exhibit housed there today depicts an 18th century schoolhouse scene.
The building was moved to its current location by the historical society in 1958.